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Mark Smith named 2017 Illinois Mr. Basketball, Jeremiah Tilmon finishes in 4th place

The Fighting Illini recruiting target beat out some other big in-state names.

It’s official — Edwardsville’s Mark Smith has been named Mr. Basketball of Illinois for the 2017 season. The star guard racked up 251 total points in the vote to edge out Evanston’s Nojel Eastern (Purdue) and Belleville Althoff’s Jordan Goodwin (St. Louis).

Smith, an uncommitted 6-foot-5 point guard, averaged 21.9 points, 8.4 assists, and 8.2 rebounds per game while leading Edwardsville to a Class 4A Sectional Championship.

"I know my name wasn't up there at the start of the season," Smith said. "I just thank God I got this opportunity, as well as my teammates, my coaches and my parents, the Jets United program and all the coaches and media who voted for me."

According to 247Sports, Smith is rated as the No. 103 overall prospect in the class-of-2017. While technically on the outer edge of four-star territory, Smith boasts an impressive offer list that includes the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio State, Nebraska, Kansas State, and Missouri.

Illinois signees Jeremiah Tilmon and Javon Pickett placed in fourth and eighth place, respectively.

Ayo Dosunmu and Tim Finke were the only two juniors that appeared on multiple ballots; both have already received scholarship offers from the Fighting Illini.

2017 Illinois ‘Mr. Basketball’ Voting

Rank Player School Year Vote Total
Rank Player School Year Vote Total
1 Mark Smith Edwardsville SR 251
2 Nojel Eastern Evanston SR 175
3 Jordan Goodwin Belleville Althoff SR 136
4 Jeremiah Tilmon East St. Louis SR 105
5 Taylor Bruninga Glasford Illini Bluffs SR 85
6 Alonzo Verge Thornton SR 51
7 Nana Akenten Bolingbrook SR 46
8 Javon Pickett Belleville East SR 46
9 Cameron Krutwig Jacobs SR 45
10 Lucas Williamson Young SR 31
11 Justin Smith Stevenson SR 30
12 Evan Gilyard Simeon SR 29
13 Ayo Dosunmu Morgan Park JR 25
14 Tray Buchanan East Moline United SR 23
15 Tai Bibbs West Chicago SR 15
16 Jack Nolan Benet SR 13
17 Jamal Nixon Fenwick SR 12
18 Elijah Joiner Curie SR 11
19 Noah Frederking Okawville SR 10
20 Teyvion Kirk Joliet Central SR 10
21 Zach Couper Rockford Boylan SR 10
22 Jimmy Sotos Conant SR 9
23 Tim Finke Champaign Central JR 7
24 Marco Pettinato Lincoln-Way West SR 6
25 Josh Niego Brother Rice SR 2
26 Kyle Sliwa Fremd SR 2
Others Receiving Votes: Brett Czerak (Aurora Central), Demarius Jacobs (Uplift), Austin Richie (Bloom), Trevian Bell (Joliet West), Jared Cain (Patoka), Maurice Commander (Marist), Kelvin Cortez-Harvey (St. Edward), Yaakema Rose (Springfield Lanphier), Rafael Cruz (Von Steuben), Drew Gibson (Effingham St. Anthony), (Talen Horton-Tucker (Simeon), Kendle Moore (Danville), Zac Rzewnicki (Ridgewood)